January 3rd 2005

Adirondack Spruce

Many of the the famous classic US steel string guitars were built with Adirondack spruce soundboards. As it became harder to source, most guitar factories replaced it with the cheaper and readily available Sitka.

Adirondack is stiffer than both Sitka and European spruce and could suit my designs well. Although relatively expensive and difficult to find in suitable widths, it is still available and I’m building an experimental guitar with and Adirondack spruce soundboard.

This guitar will have old Brazilian rosewood back and sides, and a figured Honduras mahogany neck. Because I feel the greater soundboard area will suit the stiffer spruce, I’m building it in my Martin Simpson signature model mould. It be fitted with rosewood binding and birdsfoot and colours trim. Here are the back and sides, first ready to be glued together, and then glued and clamped, and finally fully lined ready for the soundboard

Parlour guitar

This is now lacquered. It’s waiting for final buffing, then the bridge will be glued on and it can be strung up. After which I have only to find a left handed guitarist to play it before I ship it to Alex.